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The U.S. dollar could continue to perform well, but there is a short-term case as to why dollar strength could be accompanied by more asset class volatility. Currency markets are moving ahead of what interest rate markets are telling us, so there is a disconnect.

Recent market performance, particularly in September, has been negative across a widespread array of asset classes as we have seen the U.S. dollar exchange rate rise with increasing intensity in recent months. The worst returns, not coincidentally, were delivered by the very assets that have shown historically high sensitivity to dollar strength.

In the following Q&A, David Donora, Head of Commodities for Threadneedle Investments, addresses some of the key concerns currently facing investors in commodity markets, and explains his view of the outlook for the market. What is your outlook for commodities for the remainder of 2014?

The factors keeping inflation low remain U.S. dollar strength and sluggish global trade, together with the deflationary pulse from weak energy and commodity prices. While there is little danger of this developing into true deflation, the strong dollar effect will continue to depress inflation for much longer and this has a stronger influence on core inflation.

After the recent correction and with the breadth of our asset allocation research still favoring equities, we are rebuilding an equity overweight, primarily using U.S. large-cap stocks. While the Fed heads toward the exit, the European Central Bank is planning to provide further monetary easing and the Bank of Japan is continuing to expand its balance sheet.

Q: What indications did you observe that pointed to the recent market volatility storm? A: In our adaptive risk allocation framework, one of the key first level characterizations we make on markets is whether interest rates are normal or too low.

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